Cameroon Olympics officials say seven competitors who have left the athletes village may be seeking new homes and sporting opportunities outside their African nation.

Press attachDe Emmanuel Tataw told The Associated Press the seven Olympians have valid U.K. visas that would allow them to stay in the country for six months. He noted that other Cameroon athletes have left Olympic squads during earlier international sports events held in Melbourne and Athens.

"Most of the time they don't come back," he said, adding that they usually seek better training facilities abroad.

Cameroon, a predominantly French-speaking nation of 20 million in west central Africa, is among the poorest nations on earth, with an estimated 2011 economic output of just $1,230 per person, according to the International Monetary Fund.

London Olympic officials said Wednesday that Cameroon officials were seeking help in locating the athletes, but stressed that they had not breached the terms of their visas and were not violating any immigration laws.